Submission- Gene Technology Bill

Gene Technology Bill

Submission to the Health Select Committee

February 17, 2025

We wish to speak to this submission at Select Committee.

Summary

We are a group of farmers and growers. Interested and open to new technologies, we are curious about innovation, open to efficiency and eager for tools that can help us farm better and continue to do well by the land. 

We support the rationale behind aspects of this Bill, particularly as it relates to medical and properly contained research using GMOs. 

We stress that the area of GMO activity that farmers and growers who support us are concerned about is field use of GMOs in primary production.  This includes: outdoor trials and commercial cultivation/farming of GM crops and animals, and the use of GM pesticides. 

In its current form, the Bill does not serve farmers, growers and food businesses well where use of GMOs in agriculture – particularly in the field – are concerned. Fundamental analysis has not been done, consultation with us has been minimal, the biggest risks for us are brushed under the carpet, and there is no detail on the practicalities of the regime (such as segregation). 

Many farmers and growers feel despondent that 'it is all a done deal' and that government is intent on driving this Bill through. Many of us are anxious about what this will mean for our businesses. We do not believe that in its current form, the Bill as it relates to field use of agricultural GMOs can progress with farmer confidence. 

The Select Committee process must restore farmer and grower confidence and require the work to be done to get this regulatory regime right.

We stress that the area of GMO activity that farmers and growers who support us are concerned about is field use of GMOs in primary production. By that we mean outdoor trials and commercial cultivation/farming of GM crops, animals and use of GM pesticides. In this submission, our shorthand for that is “field use of agricultural GMOs”. These carry a different magnitude of risk from contained uses. 



The key issues that, at a minimum, the Select Committee must take the time to get right, with farmers and growers are:

  1. Economic risks and benefits of field uses of agricultural GMOs: these must be part of the risk assessment and an economic net benefit test must be applied

  2. Traceability: All GMOs – including all gene edited organisms should at a minimum be identified to enable segregation and traceability.

  3. Farmers, growers and the food sector must be involved in decisions on all field uses of agricultural GMOs and what conditions should apply if approved.

  4. Maintaining our ability to make decisions about GMO use based on our unique conditions and strategic objectives: Removing the pathway to “import” decisions from recognised regulators elsewhere without having to consult.

  5. Due financial accountability: Ensuring that developers and GMO users do not unfairly pass on the costs arising from segregation or unintended consequences  field uses of GMOs.

  6. Feasibility and fairness in segregation: This is the crux issue for farming and as yet there is no detail on who will be responsible for segregation, what the contamination thresholds will be and who will wear the costs of keeping GM and non-GM production segregated (where feasible).

There must be: 1. credible answers to these questions and 2. broad and meaningful discussion and consultation with farmers and growers before this Bill is passed.  We are look forward to supporting the Select Committee to ensure this happens.